Lenten 

Campaign  on 
Evangelism 

1920 


, Purpose : 

To  put  the  Protestant  Church 
of  America  in  Circulation 
for  Christ 


Interchurch  World  Movement 
of  North  America 


45  West  18th  Street,  New  York  City 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/lentenevangelismOOinte 


Victory 

Through  Prayer 


The  history  of  every  great  spiritual  tri- 
umph is  the  history  of  answered  prayer. 
“With  our  Lord,”  says  George  Adam  Smith, 
“prayer  was  not  a preparation  for  the  bat- 
tle; prayer  was  the  battle.”  The  reach  and 
power  of  the  evangelistic  campaign  will 
depend  upon  how  far  this  spirit  dominates 
the  lives  of  the  leaders  and  permeates  the 
churches  and  communities  where  the  work 
is  going  forward.  In  the  secret  places  of 
fellowship  with  God  the  triumph  will  begin. 

Words  are  inadequate  to  express  how  im- 
perative it  is  that  everything  possible  be 
done  to  call  out  and  release  the  prayer 
power  of  the  church. 

The  following  suggestions  are  offered  as 
some  of  the  ways  of  bringing  this  about: 

1.  Utilize  to  the  fullest  possible  extent  the 
members  of  the  Fellowship  of  Interces- 
sion or  any  other  list  of  enrolled  inter- 
cessors by  giving  them  definite  subjects 
for  prayer  and  special  evangelistic 
tasks. 

2.  Ask  all  Christians  to  pause  for  a mo- 
ment of  prayer  for  the  campaign  at 
twelve  o'clock  each  day.  While  the 

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campaign  is  in  progress  ring  all  church 
bells  or  chimes  for  a moment  at  noon  as 
a reminder  of  the  prayer  time. 

3.  Give  special  place  to  prayer  in  all  stated 
church  meetings.  One  or  two  Sunday 
church  services  might  well  be  set  aside 
entirely  for  intercession. 

4.  Use  the  Group  or  Unit  Leaders  for  the 
circulation  of  literature  on  prayer  and 
for  the  holding  of  special  group  meet- 
ings for  prayer. 

6.  Organize  community  prayer  meetings 
where  practicable,  relating  them  to  defi- 
nite personal  work  and  other  evangelis- 
tic plans. 

Every  Church  Evangelism 

These  suggestions  are  not  intended  to  in- 
terfere with  the  perfect  freedom  of  any 
pastor  or  church  in  making  its  own  evan- 
gelistic program.  The  purpose  of  the  In- 
terchurch Evangelistic  Campaign  is  to  sup- 
plement the  work  of  the  local  church  and 
the  resident  minister  by  suggesting  certain 
forms  of  common  evangelistic  endeavor 
which  will  make  it  easier  and  more  effec- 
tive for  every  pastor  and  every  church  to 
secure  the  largest  evangelistic  product. 
No  evangelistic  agency  can  compare  in 
value  and  power  to  the  local  religious  so- 
ciety called  a church.  Nothing  should  be 
allowed  to  deprive  that  local  church  of  its 
mission  to  be  a continuous  and  compelling 
evangelist  in  the  community. 

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The  slogan  of  this  campaign  is; 

Every  Christian  an  Evangelist. 
Every  Church  a Center  of 
Evangelism  and  Community  Service. 

Evangelism  which  does  not  fruit  in 
community  service  is  socially  deficient. 
Community  service  which  does  not  root  in 
evangelism  is  spiritually  deficient. 

Every  Protestant  Church  in  America  is 
Urged  to  Conduct  a Series  of  Special 
Evangelistic  Services  Under  the  Direc- 
tion OF  THE  Resident  Minister  for  at 
Least  Two  Weeks  Preceding  Easter 
Sunday 


Out  o£  Circulation 

No  members  of  the  Protestant  churches 
of  America  ought  to  face  more  fearlessly 
Christ’s  parable  of  the  lost  silver  than  the 
men  and  women  in  official  position  in  our 
churches.  What  was  the  matter  with  that 
piece  of  silver?  It  was  lost.  In  what 
sense?  Lost  in  circulation.  It  was  a good 
coin  if  it  could  be  found.  But  it  was  out 
of  circulation.  Nothing  could  be  bought 
with  it  while  it  was  out  of  circulation.  If 
you  take  money  out  of  circulation  you  in- 
duce a financial  panic.  Spiritual  bank- 
ruptcy will  come  in  the  church  unless  her 
leaders  get  in  circulation  for  Christ.  Christ 
can  be  counted  on;  can  He  count  on  the 
church  officials  of  America  to  be  His  wit- 
nesses, His  ambassadors,  His  partners? 

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Our  slogan  for  our  lay  officials  is: 

As  the  Church  Officials  go  for  Christ,  so 
goes  the  Whole  Church 

In  every  community,  as  early  in  Lent  as 
possible,  the  church  officials  of  every  Pro- 
testant church  should  be  brought  together 
in  an  assembly  and  face  the  entire  Pro- 
testant evangelistic  obligation  in  that  com- 
munity. If  this  group  will  not  face  the 
facts  in  the  light  of  the  face  of  Christ, 
there  will  be  no  spiritual  awakening.  The 
evangelistic  destiny  of  any  community  is 
determined  by  the  church  officials.  They 
are  the  biggest  unused  evangelistic  asset 
in  America. 

“Not  by  Bread  Alone” 

No  word  of  Jesus  seems  more  imperative 
for  men  who  are  earning  higher  wages  and 
have  secured  more  material  comforts  than 
at  any  hour  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
We  have  but  one  gospel  for  the  employer 
and  the  employed.  We  know  only  one 
Christ  for  all  men  regardless  of  social, 
financial,  or  economic  distinction.  In  har- 
mony with  the  teaching  of  Christ  that  all 
men  are  brothers,  suggestion  is  made  that 
every  possible  enterprise  be  manifested  in 
securing  a hearing  for  Jesus  Christ  among 
the  industrial  groups  of  the  nation. 

1.  Through  the  recognized  community  or- 
ganization such  as  ministers’  associa- 
tions, Federation  of  Churches,  Y.M.C.A., 
and  other  organized  groups  of  Chris- 
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tian  leaders,  to  arrange  an  extensive 
Shop  and  Factory  Campaign  during 
Lent.  Meetings  could  be  held  once  a 
week  during  the  month  preceding  Easter 
and  possibly  each  day  during  Holy 
Week  at  the  noon  hour.  On  Good  Fri- 
day request,  wherever  possible,  a rea- 
sonable extension  of  time  on  the  pay  of 
the  employer,  so  as  to  secure  a fair 
hearing  for  the  Good  Friday  message. 

2.  To  arrange  with  the  labor  groups  of 
the  community  to  go  into  their  halls  or 
labor  unions  and  interpret  the  Chris- 
tian message  on  the  basis  of  the  Ser- 
mon on  the  Mount.  The  Industrial  Re- 
lations Department  of  the  Interchurch 
Movement  is  heartily  cooperating  in  this 
plan. 

Our  slogan: 

The  Working  Men  of  America  for  the 
Master  Workman  of  Galilee 


Take  Somebody  Your  Size 

Emphasis  has  been  given  to  the  necessity 
of  winning  folks  to  Christ  in  the  ’teen  age 
so  that  one  wonders  whether  the  Christian 
church  has  given  up  hope  of  winning 
adults.  When  an  adult  is  won  to  Christ 
he  may  be  only  an  addition  table;  when 
you  win  a boy  to  Christ  he  may  be  a mul- 
tiplication table.  But  has  the  church  no 
unsolved  problem  in  losing  her  adult  men? 
Is  Christ  unequal  to  the  task  of  winning 
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strong  men  I successful  men;  prosperous 
men;  professional  men?  Tlie  church  is 
not  winning  such  men  in  any  considerable 
numbers.  Is  Christ  incompetent  or  is  the 
church  helpless? 

What  are  we  doing  to  win  men  like 
Nicodemus,  like  Matthew,  like  Saul  of 
Tarsus?  The  challenge  of  this  campaign 
to  the  “big  business”  men  in  the  church  is 
to  “Take  Somebody  Your  Size.”  Challenge 
the  bankers  to  win  other  bankers.  Chal- 
lenge the  lawyers  to  win  other  lawyers. 
Challenge  the  merchants  to  win  other  mer- 
chants. Challenge  the  directors  of  big 
corporations  to  win  other  directors.  Chal- 
lenge the  biggest  Christian  men  in  the  com- 
munity to  win  others  just  like  themselves. 
Easy  to  win  the  boys  and  girls.  Easy  to 
approach  the  drunkard.  Easy  to  talk  with 
the  unprivileged  classes.  “Take  Somebody 
Your  Size.” 

Call  together  in  a series  of  business 
men’s  luncheons  the  brightest,  best,  biggest 
business  men  in  town.  Summon  them  to 
this  service  of  winning  other  big  men  to 
ChMst.  Challenge  them  to  test  their  sales- 
manship by  selling  the  gospel  to  other  men 
like  themselves. 

Men. Women 

MEN — -1,  Every  well  organized  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
in  the  country  conducts  a men’s  meeting 
either  on  Sunday  afternoon  or  on  a week 
night.  The  pastors  of  America  are  urged 
to  cooperate  with  the  local  Association 
leaders  in  making  these  men’s  meetings 
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during  Lent  distinctly  and  definitely  evan- 
gelistic in  spirit  and  method.  Unless  men 
are  brought  face  to  face  with  Christ,  and 
their  personal  allegiance  to  Christ  is  se- 
cured, we  can  hardly  justify  our  organized 
Christian  work  for  men  in  any  community. 

2.  In  communities  where  there  is  no 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  organization,  but  where  there 
are  several  churches,  it  is  hoped  that  the 
pastors  and  laymen  of  these  churches  will 
unite  in  holding  at  least  one  evangelistic 
meeting  every  week  for  men  only.  All  the 
Christian  men  in  the  community  should 
join  in  this  united  effort  to  reach  the  men  of 
the  community  for  Christ.  Sunday  after- 
noon is  suggested  for  such  a community 
evangelistic  meeting  for  men  only. 

WOMEN — 1.  In  our  large  centers  we  have 
our  Y.  W.  C.  A.  What  has  been  indicated 
as  a policy  for  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  during  Lent 
applies  equally  to  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  Special 
efforts  should  be  made  to  win  the  young 
women  to  Christ. 

2.  There  is  a unique  opportunity  for  the 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  to  bring  the  Christian  message 
to  the  business  women  of  our  cities.  Our 
churches  should  cooperate  heartily.  Both 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  are 
the  Protestant  churches  in  action  serving 
special  social  groups  in  the  name  of  Christ. 

Holy  Week 

This  is  the  largest  evangelistic  oppor- 
tunity of  the  entire  church  year.  No  Pro- 
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testant  church  in  America  should  fail  to 
use  it  to  secure  new  disciples  for  the  Christ 
of  Calvary  and  the  open  tomb. 

1.  Palm  Sunday,  March  28,  Acknowledg- 
ment Day.  Many  will  make  decisions 
to  follow  Christ  during  Lent  who  will 
acknowledge  Him  openly  on  this  day. 
Every  denomination  can  doubtless  se- 
cure ample  literature  from  its  Sunday 
school  Board  on  “Decision  Day.”  Adapt 
it  for  Palm  Sunday  both  in  the  Sunday 
school  and  in  the  Young  People’s  So- 
cieties. This  day  should  mark  a spirit- 
ual epoch  among  the  young  people  of 
America. 

2.  Daily  noon-day  meetings  for  all  people 

should  be  held  in  the  business  sections  of 
our  cities  in  some  downtown  church  or 
theater.  ' 

3.  The  church  bells  or  chimes  of  every 
Protestant  church  in  the  community 
should  be  rung  as  a call  to  prayer  for 
a spiritual  awakening  throughout  the 
nation  and  especially  in  the  churches  of 
that  community. 

4.  Good  Friday  Three  Hour  Service.  In 
several  sections  of  our  larger  cities  and 
in  every  community  where  there  are 
several  Protestant  churches,  a devo- 
tional service  of  three  hours,  from  12 
o’clock  noon  until  3 o’clock,  ought  to  be 
held.  The  best  music  of  the  community 
should  be  available,  interpreting  Christ 

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and  His  cross.  The  seven  sayings  of 
the  cross  should  be  the  subjects  of  ad- 
dresses, petitions,  praise. 

5.  Stores  Closed.  The  merchants  in  many 
cities  will  close  their  stores  for  the  noon 
hour  on  Good  Friday  if  requested  by  the 
churches.  Try  it.  No  testimony  to  the 
need  of  the  Christ  of  the  cross  will  be 
more  effective. 

6.  J oin-the-Church  Sunday — Easter, April  i. 
This  day  should  witness  the  reception 
into  church  fellowship  of  the  largest 
number  of  new  disciples  of  Christ  who 
have  ever  been  received  on  any  one  day 
in  the  history  of  Protestantism.  It 
should  be  the  beginning  of  a new  world 
Pentecost. 

The  suggestions  in  this  leaflet  are  in- 
tended to  supplement  those  contained  in 
the  booklet  entitled  “The  Nineteen-Twenty 
Evangelistic  Campaign,”  the  common  evan- 
gelistic features  of  which  are  commended 
to  all  cooperating  denominations. 


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No.  476  SR.  II.  165.  Mar.  1920 


